Roman Fortress Sexaginta Prista

The Roman fortress Sexaginta Prista is located in the town of Ruse, on the bank of the Danube River, 195 km north-west of Varna and 311 km north-east of the capital Sofia city.

The fortress, whose translated name means "Port of the sixty ships", represents an open exposition and is a part of the Regional Historical Museum of Ruse.

The preserved north walls of the fortress can still be seen, as well as a square tower, a sarcophagus and numerous stone fragments.

The monument dates back from the Roman times, when a Roman castle was built on the ruins of an ancient Thracian settlement. The castle is first mentioned in the writings of the ancient geographer Claudius Ptolemy and the guidebook of the Emperor Antoninus. Making an analogy of the name of the castle with a military port in Italy from Trayan's time, which means "one hundred cameras", it can be assumed that Sexaginta Prista had 60 fortified barriers, which made it a place with key strategic functions.

The first evidence of the castle comes from the writings of the ancient geographer Claudius Ptolemy, who mentions its existence. Sexantapristis is also mentioned in the guidebook of the emperor Antoninus Pius. During excavations conducted in 2006 were found the remains of a Roman military headquarter, probably used in the first quarter of the IV century until the first decade of the V century. The dating was done on the basis of the found coins and pottery. Thirty steps leading to the fortified stone tunnel used during the Ottoman era were also found there.

The castle "Sexaginta Prista" died under the blows of the Avars and Slavs at the end of VI and the beginning of VII century like many castles along the right bank of the Lower Danube River. Later, during the IX-X century the medieval town of Ruse emerged on the ruins of the fortress. The discovery of a Christian tomb and bones of other individuals allowed the hypothetical assumption that one of the cemeteries of Ruse used to be here between XII-XV century.

TRANSPORT AND ACCOMODATION

The fortress Sexaginta Prista is easily reached as it is located in the town of Ruse. It is located on 2 Tsar Kaloyan Str and is open to visitors every day from 8:30 till 17:30 / except Monday and Sunday /.

Ruse offers excellent accommodation conditions for tourists - several hotels, guest houses, restaurants and afes are available for tourists.

Sources: http://bulgaria-tourismbg.com, http://bg.wikipedia.org
Photos: http://tsenko.blogspot.com